navi tasan
Key Member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2002
- Member Type
- Academic
- Native Language
- Persian
- Home Country
- Iran
- Current Location
- United States
1) I saw him climb the wall.
2) I saw him climbing the wall.
Let us say the wall was 12 feet high and I saw him climb the last 3 feet. So I see him get to the top, but I don't see him start his climb.
Which sentence could I use?
I'd go with '1', but wouldn't consider '2' wrong. It might give the impression that I did not see him get to the top.
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3) I saw him write a letter.
4) I saw him writing a letter.
Let us say I saw him write the final ten sentences of a hundred-sentence letter. Which sentence could I use?
In this case, I would choose '4', but I do find it very unclear in this context. It doesn't indicate in any way that I saw him finish the letter.
Gratefully,
Navi.
2) I saw him climbing the wall.
Let us say the wall was 12 feet high and I saw him climb the last 3 feet. So I see him get to the top, but I don't see him start his climb.
Which sentence could I use?
I'd go with '1', but wouldn't consider '2' wrong. It might give the impression that I did not see him get to the top.
======================
3) I saw him write a letter.
4) I saw him writing a letter.
Let us say I saw him write the final ten sentences of a hundred-sentence letter. Which sentence could I use?
In this case, I would choose '4', but I do find it very unclear in this context. It doesn't indicate in any way that I saw him finish the letter.
Gratefully,
Navi.
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